Mining machine having crankshaft operated ripper means



Feb. 24, 1959 RUTNH' 2,874,947

MINING MACHINE HAVING CRANKSHAFT OPERATED RIPPER MEANS Filed May 17, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q INVENTCR. 2 Joseph P. Ruth ATTORNEY Feb. 24,

Filed May 1'7, 1957 1959 J. P. RUTH 2,874,947

MINING MACHINE HAVING CRANKSHAFT OPERATED RIPPER MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 i i I INVENTOR.

Joseph P. Ruth iMM ' ATTORNEY United States Patent MINING MACHINE HAVING CRANKSHAFT OPERATED RIPPER MEANS Functionally and structurally analogous to and as a development from the disclosures of my letters patent of the United States No. 2,692,130, dated October 19, 1954, this invention relates to machine unit power-operable, particularly in underground workings, such as drifts and tunnels, to mine and excavate natural earth strata for the recovery of such material or for extension of the underground working, and has as an object to provide an improved construction and operative inter-association of elements constituting such a machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved machine unit power-operable for the mining of coal and analogous natural materials with practicality, eiiiciency, and economy.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mining machine characterized by novel excavating means adjustably operable to work over the entire face area of an underground drift or tunnel with powerful disruptive effect upon the material thereby engaged.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and efiicicnt excavating means applicable to the disruption of various natural materials in operative association with mountings of diverse types and constructions.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved excavating means productive in operation of powerful disruptive effect upon materials engaged thereby.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel and improved excavating means for operative completion of a mining machine that is simple and rugged of construction as a powered unit in a wide range of desired sizes and specific adaptations, that is eflicient and economical in operation, and that is applicable to practical use on frangiblenatural materials in a variety of particular operations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and operative combination of elements as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a typical embodiment of the invention asorganized ready for practical use.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement according to Figure 1, certain elements of the view being shown in section to better illustrate structural and operative relationships.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view, partly in secto the preceding views.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the assembly according to Figure 3 as viewed from the line 4--4 indicated on the latter. I

T ypifying the structural correlations and operative features of a mechanical environment wherein the prin- ,tion and on a relatively enlarged scale, of the novelexcavating means characterizing the arrangements according 2,874,947 Patented Feb. 24,1959

frame 10 horizontally disposed in rollably-supported relation with wheels lland a rigid platform 12 revolubly carried by and above said frame for rotation about a vertical axis centrally thereof. Power means, such as a motor 13 carried by the frame 10 in conventional driving relation with appropriate wheels 11, are provided for selectively-controllable translation of the vehicle in either direction, and the platform 12 is likewise powered for selectively-controllable rotation about its pivotal axis and relative to the associated frame, as by means of a motor 14 carried by the frame to drive through a conventional transmission 15. Complementary trusses 15 fixedly upstand in spaced, parallel relation from opposite sides of the platform 12 to fixed connection at their upper ends with ends of a headframe 16 spanning therebetween transversely of the platform, and jacks 17 upstand from threaded engagement with the opposite ends of said headframe for selective extension and retraction relative to the latter and into and out of clamping engagement against the roof of the driftor tunnel accommodating the vehicle, whereby to provide for anchoring the vehicle unit in any selected operative correlation with the face of the drift or tunnel to be worked. Vertically traversing each truss 15, like feed screws 18 are paired in spaced, parallel relation to span between journaled engagement with the upper end of the truss and connection through a gear box 19 carried by the platform 12 with power means, such as synchronously-interlinked motors 20, selectively operable to simultaneously and correspondingly rotate all of the screws 18, and a trunnion block 21 threadedly coacts with and spans between the paired screws 18 at each side of the platform 12 for selective adjustment vertically of the associated truss in reaction to rotation of its supporting screws and in maintained registration transversely of the platform with its counterpart. The trunnion blocks 21 provide bearings for the journaled support of spindles 22 oppositely outstanding in alignment laterally from the approximate midlength of a boom assembly indicated generally by the numeral 23 and hereinafter more specifically described, whereby said boom assembly is mounted on and for travel with the vehicle in a disposition longitudinally of and above the platform 12 between the trusses 15 for selective adjustment in a vertical plane about an axis transverse of the platform, for rotation about a vertical axis with the platform, and for travel with the blocks 21 toward and away from the platform. Rotation of the platform carrying the boom is determined and controlled by the means above recited, altitudinal adjustment of the blocks mounting the boom is determined and controlled by the means for rotating the screws 18 hereinabove set forth, and other means, including a threaded jack stem 24 extensible, as by means of a hand crank 25, into clamped engagement vertically between the floor and roof of the drift or tunnel rearwardly adjacent the frame 10, are provided to regulate and to determine oscillation of the boom assembly about its transverse mounting axis. The boom assembly 23 is of a length to project at each end well beyond platfornr the jack stem 24 carries a motor 28 in driving relation with the gear elements thereof selectively actuatable to elevate or to depress the associated box along the stem and aligned pinsf29 outstand oppositely from the box 27 substantially perpendicular to and through the longitudinal slots of the yoke arms 26 to operatively link the trailing end of the boom assembly to and for travel with said box, thus to provide for controllable power oscillation of the boom assembly about its transverse support-ingaxis in; all adjusted dispositions of the latter. The trailing; end connection of the boom assembly 23 with the jack'stem 24 just described may be availed of to effect an oscillation of the platform 12 and the associated boom assembly in horizontal planes, it being feasible to provide on the projecting end of one of the pins 29 a loop 30 elongated longitudinally of the boom assembly and adapted to coact with a crank 31 eccentrically revolublein a bracket 32-fixed to the adjacent yoke arm 26j and rotatably powered by. amotor 33 mounted on jsaid bracket, whereby to apply rotation of the crank '31 through the -lopi30 for vibratory lateral shift of the trailing end of the boom; assembly andcorresponding vibratory actuation; of fthe "opposite .end thereof.

All of the foregoingis but typical of vehicular organiz'ations'wherein and wherewiththeimprovements of the instant invention are applicable with utility and advantage, and is illustrated and described as but represen'tative'of the background primary to and the'supplementary environment for realization of the advantages characterizing the novel principles and unique structural arrangements hereinafter elaborated.

Effectuating the concept and to realize the purposes of the instant invention, the boom assembly 23 is formed to include a rigidly-associated, U-shaped, intermediate section defined by a beam 34 transversely of the assembly in a length to'bridge with operative clearance between the opposed inner faces of the trunnion blocks'2l and arms 35 perpendicularly and fixedly associated With the ends of said beam to extend thence parallel to the -lougitudinal median line of the assembly in registration laterally of the assembly and in clearing relation with and across the inner faces of the blocks 21. The spindles -22 engageable in the journals of the blocks 21 are fixed to outer sides of the arms 35 inwardly adjacent the free ends thereof to establish the transverse axis'of'boom oscillation forwardly in the direction of intended excavationfrorn and parallel to the beam 34 of the mounted =assembly,-and the trailing portion of theboom assembly characterized by the terminal arms -26 fixedly closes to and in symmetrical relation with the beam 34 'in any feasible manner appropriate to provide accommodation, .such as a-housing 36, for a source of power, such as a motor (not shown), thereby operatively associated with the boom assembly to dispose itspower output element 37 in axialcoincidence with the longitudinal median line ofthe assembly through the beam 34. Centrally of thebeam 34 and forwardly therefrom'in the direction of intended excavation symmetrically across the transverse 'axis of boom assembly oscillation, a housing 38 defines a gear box in fixed association with the beam from; th e opposite sides of which,like, rigid arms 39 extendin a similar spacing from and parallel to the longitudinal median line of the assembly t -free terminal points 39 overhanging and projecting beyond underlying elements of the vehicle assembly, and asimilar arm 40 bisects the space between said arms 39 in fixed projection from the housing 38.:parallel to and in registration laterally of the assembly with said arms 39 to terminat'e ina free end point 40 aligned with and between thefp onts 39. Atfeach 'side bf the housing 38, rigid ar'n'is similar and icomplenie'ntaryfto the arms 39 fixedly project from" the beam 34 in registration laterally of the ass'ernbly with saidarms 39"and in-space'd, parallel rela- ,tion with the latter and with-each other to terminatein free endpoints 41 aligned with and disposed outwardly fromthe points 39 whe'reby toco'nstitute that portion of the boom assembly: 23 T advanced in the direction 1 of intended excavation'as a rhulti-tined fork arranged'to rake with the freeendsof the tines over a, surface thereby engaged as the boom assembly is oscillated about either or both of its vertical and horizontal mounting axes.

Excavating elements operable with powerful disruptive effect are associated with the fork construction above described to function in accordance with the principles of the invention by means of crankshafts 42 and 43 journaled in spaced, parallel relation axially perpendicular to and through elements of the 'fork. The crankshaft 42 spans laterally of the fork construction in axial coincidence with the axis of boom assembly oscillation established by the spindles 22 and is adapted for rotation in such mounting through the provision of a'straight central section journaled in and centrally traversing the housing 38 and associated arms 39 and "coaxial bearing sectionsjournaled in each of the arms Q41 flankingsaid housing, the said central section and bearings being linked by angularlyrelated crank throws 44 engaged therebetween for operative accommodation at each side of each of said arms 41, one such throw 44-being jprovidedat each end of the crankshaft laterally exter-ior to the outermost arms 41 of the fork. The crankshaft 43 laterally traverses all of the arms 39, 40 and 41 inwardly adjacent the free ends thereof and is journaled for rotation therein by means of coaxial bearings interlinked by crank throws 45 complementary to the corresponding throws 44 of the crankshaft 42, a distinguishing feature of the crankshaft 43 being the provision of crank throws 45' in operative accommodation between the arms 39 and 40 at both sides of the latter. An idler crankshaft-46 complementary to that portion of the crankshaft 43 intercepted between the-arms 39 extends through and is journaled for rotation in said arms and the arm 40 therebetween spacedly parallel to the crankshaft 43 between the latter and the housing 38 with its 'angularly-related crank throws -47 operatively accommodated at each side of the arm 40 for coaction with and in a-relationship identical to that of the crank throws 45'. Corresponding crank throws of the crankshafts 42 and 43 operatively support and are interlinked by rigid bars 48 pivotallyengaged therewith and extending therebetweenparallel to the arm elements of the fork construction, one such bar 48 pivotally connecting with and extending at each side of each of the arms 41 between each set of the crank throws 44 and 45 paired longitudinally of the assembly, whereby to dispose one such bar 48 exteriorly adjacent the outer arms 41 laterallylimiting the fork construction. Similarly, bars 49 expedientlythe same as the bars 43 save as to length pivotally engage with and extend between the complementary crankthrows 4 5 and 47 of the crankshafts 43 and 46, 'respectivelyyto complete anorganization wherein rotation of the crankshaft 42 occasions synchronous rotation of the-crank shafts 43 and 46 with consequent orbital reciprocation of the bars 48 and 49 longitudinally of the assernbly in a staggered angular relationship and sequence determined by the angular correlation of the crank'throws thereby the ends of said bars adjacent the crankshaft 43 longitudinally and outwardly of the assembly beyond and arcuately about the zone common to the free endpoints of the "associated arms 39, 40 and 41 as said bars move under theinfluence of the rotating crankshafts, whereby toconstitute said ends of the bars aspowered rams successively and repetitiously engageable with; powerful disruptive force --against and with rakingaction on areas of ass 434*? g frangible natural materials to which they are opposed and across and along which they are traversed through adjustments of the boom assembly 23 inherent in the mounting of the latter illustrated and described. As will be apparent, the conformation and mass of the bars 48 and 49 may be adapted throughout an extensive range for regulation of the intensity and particularity of the effects delivered by their operating ends, and said bars may be balanced and counterbalanced statically and dynamically, either or both, in accordance with known principles and practice, as may be deemed to be desirable and feasible. The disruptive excavating effect of the raking impacts delivered by the operating ends of the reciprocating bars 48 and 49 may advantageously be enhanced through the provision of tooth projections 52, formed from or tipped with hard, wear-resistant material, fixed to and for travel with the operating ends of said bars in any number, pattern and arrangement expedient to apply the raking impact of the bars with ripping, splitting, and gouging effect on the material thereto opposed, whereby to claw, tear, and break away such material in relatively large fragments, and lateral clearance for operation of the excavating assembly without binding is assured through the provision of other teeth 53 fixed to, revoluble with, and projecting laterally of the assembly from the ends of the crank pins of the crank throws 45 engaged with the laterally-outermost of the bars 48.

The utility and mode of operation distinguishing the improvements shown and described should be fully apparent from the foregoing. Supported by and adjustable relative to a powered wheeled vehicle as set forth, the excavating elements of the boom assembly 23 may be presented to and for operation upon a drift or tunnel face, or the equivalent, in any preferred correlation therewith, whereafter, with the vehicle immobilized and the trailing end of the boom assembly operatively associated with the jack stem 24, the working ends of the excavating elements may be vibrated laterally of and traversed vertically across the face as they are orbitally actuated to break, rip, gouge, and split away material therefrom.

Since changes, variations, and modifications in the form, construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may be had without departing from the spirit of my invention, I wish to be understood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims, rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment, a crankshaft journaled transversely of said boom intermediate the ends thereof for rotation about an horizontal axis, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft constituted as an angularly-related succession of throws spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings complementary to and in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft journaled by means of its pin bearings transversely of the boom adjacent a free end thereof, and rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent end of the latter as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, excavating ripper.

2. In a. mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment, a crankshaft journaled transversely of said boom inwardly from a free end thereof for rotation about an horizontal axis, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft constituted as an angularly-related succession of throws spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings complementary to and in spaced, parallel relation with said first versely of the boom adjacent a free end thereof, rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent end of the latter as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, impact excavator, and ripping teeth fixedly projecting from the outer end extensions of said bars.

3. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment, a crankshaft journaled transversely of said boom inwardly from a free end thereof for rotation about an horizontal axis, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft constituted as an angularly-related succession of throws spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings complementary to and in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft journaled by means of its pin bearings transversely of the boom adjacent a free end thereof, a terminal throw at each end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom end, and rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent end of the latter as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, excavating ripper, whereby to dispose one such bar for consequent excavating effect laterally and exteriorly adjacent each side of the boom at the free end thereof.

4. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment, a crankshaft journaled transversely of said boom inwardly from a free end thereof for rotation about an horizontal axis, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft,

excavating means comprising a second crankshaft constituted as an angularly-related succession of throws spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings complementary to and in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft journaled by means of its pin bearings transversely of the boom adjacent a free end thereof, a terminal throw at 'each end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom end, rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent end of the latter as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, impact excavator, whereby to dispose one such bar for consequent excavating eflfect laterally and exteriorly adjacent each side of the boom at the free end thereof, ripping teeth fixedly projecting from the outer end extensions of said bars, and excavating teeth fixedly projecting radially and axially from the terminal throws of said second crankshaft.

5. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment and formed with a plurality of like, rigid arms horizontally spaced apart in fixed, parallel relation longitudinally thereof to terminate in free ends aligned transversely of the boom, a crankshaft formed with angularly-related throws jOlJlIIlEllCd transversely of the boom through inward portions of said arms for rotation about an horizontal axis paralleling the aligned free ends thereof with one of the'crankshaft throws operatively disposed laterally and outwardly adjacent each of said arms, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft formed with an angularly-related succession of throws complementary to those of said first crankshaft spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings journaled by means of said bearings transversely of the boom through free ends of said arms in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft to dispose a terminal throw at each end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom end,

crankshaft journaled by means of its pin bearings transand rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardlyof the boom beyond the adjacent free ends of said arms as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, excavating ripper.

6. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment and formed with a plurality of like, rigid arms horizontally spaced apart in fixed, parallel relation longitudinally thereof to terminate in free ends aligned transversely of the boom, a crankshaft formed with angularly-related throws journaled transversely of the boom through inward portions of said arms for rotation about an horizontal axis paralleling the aligned free ends thereof with one of the crankshaft throws opera? tively disposed laterally and outwardly adjacent each of said arms, and powered mean'ston said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising aseeond crankshaft formed with anangularlyrelated succession of throws complementary to those of said firsticrankshaft spacedly interlinked by coaxial pin bearings journaled by means of said bearings transversely of the boom through free ends of said arms in spaced, parallel relation with said'first crankshaft to dispose a terminal throw at each end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom end, rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first and second crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent free ends of said arms as an incident of crankshaft rotation effective to apply the free end of each said bar as an independent, impact excavator, ripping teeth fixedly projecting from the outer end extensions of said bars, and excavating teeth fixedly projecting radially and axially from the terminal throws of said second crankshaft.

7. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment formed with a plurality of like, rigid arms horizontally spaced apart in fixed, parallel relation longitudinally thereof to terminate in free ends aligned transversely of the boom and a housing centered laterally of the boom in separating relation between the fixed end of adjacent said arms, a crankshaft formed with angularly-related throws journaled transversely of the boom through said housing and inward portions of said arms for rotation about an horizontal axis paralleling the aligned free ends of the latter with one of the crank? shaft throws disposed laterally and outwardly adjacent each of said arms, and powered means on said boom in drivingrelation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft formed with throws complementary to those ofisaid first crankshaft journaled transversely of the boom through free ends of said arms in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft to disposes terminal throw ateach end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom .end, a supplementary rigid arm fixedly projecting from said housing in spaced parallelism between and registration laterally of the boom with adjacent units of the arms first named to journaled engagement with said second crank! shaft, an auxiliary crankshaft journaled in said supplementary arm and the arm units at each side thereof in spaced, axially-parallel relation with, said second crankshaft, complementary throws on said second and auxiliary crankshafts at each side of said supplementary arm, and rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first, second and auxiliary crankshafts in end extension longitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent free ends of said arms as an incident of crankshaft rotation.

8. In a mining machine having a boom frame-mounted for selective adjustment formed with a plurality of like, rigid arms horizontally spaced apart in fixed, parallel relation longitudinally thereof to terminate in free ends aligned transversely of the boom and a housing centered laterally of the boom in separating relation between the fixed ends of adjacent said arms, a crankshaft formed with angularly-related throws joutnaled transversely of the boom through said housing and inward portions of said arms for rotation about an horizontal axis paralleling the aligned free ends of the latter with one of the crankshaft throws disposed laterally and outwardly adjacent each of said arms, and powered means on said boom in driving relation with said crankshaft, excavating means comprising a second crankshaft formed with throws complementary to those of said first crankshaft journaled transversely of the boom through free ends of said arms in spaced, parallel relation with said first crankshaft to dispose a terminal throw at each end of said second crankshaft laterally exterior to the associated boom end, a supplernentary rigid arm fixedly projecting from said housing in spaced parallelism between and registration laterally ofthe boom with adjacent units of the arms first named to journaled engagement with said second crankshaft, an auxiliary crankshaft journaled in said supplementary arm and the arm units at each side thereof in spaced, axially-parallel relation with said second crankshaft, complementary throws on said second and auxiliary crankshafts at each side of said supplementary arm, rigid bars operatively interlinking corresponding throws of said first, second and auxiliary crankshafts in end extension iongitudinally and outwardly of the boom beyond the adjacent free ends of said arms as an incident of crankshaft rotation, ripping teeth fixedly projecting from the outer end extensions of said bars, and excavating teeth fixedly projecting radially and axially from the terminal throws of said second crankshaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

